Rivers Crisis: Court Restrains pro-Wike Lawmakers From Assembly Activities
In a recent development, the State High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an interlocutory injunction preventing lawmakers loyal to former Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, from sitting and functioning as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court order, issued by Justice C.N. Wali, was in response to a suit filed by pro-Governor Siminilayi Fubara lawmakers led by their Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, alongside Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy.
The injunction specifically restrains the faction of lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It also bars them from holding any legislative activities at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road Port Harcourt or any other place, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
This ruling follows a previous ex-parte order issued on May 10th, which prohibited the Governor of Rivers State, the Attorney-General, and the Chief Judge from engaging with the affected lawmakers.
The latest injunction reinforces the earlier order and sets a new court date for July 1st, 2024, for further proceedings.
Justice Wali’s ruling emphasized the declaration of the affected lawmakers’ seats as vacant, pending the outcome of the substantive suit.
This decision underscores the legal complexities surrounding the leadership dispute within the Rivers State House of Assembly and the efforts to resolve them through the judicial process.
